Refrigerator



Oct. 11 1927 1 6449 4 l.. G. coPEMAN 8 REFRIGERATOR Filed-Aug. 18, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE Y.

I., V In oct. 11', 1927.

L. G. COPEMAN REFRI GEHATOR Filed Aug. 18, 1924 4 Sl'usets-Shee'rI 5 Y INVENToR. H2944 0MM BY I 'Y 4 ATToRNEY.

A l.. G. coPEMAN REFRIGERATOR Filed Aus.. 18, 1924 4 Sheets-sheet 4 INVENTOR.

MM I

ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFic-E.

LLOYD G. COPEI/IAN, OF FLIN'I, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 COPEMAN LABORATORIES COMPANY, 0F FLINT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICIGAN.

REFRIGERATOR.

Application filed August 18, 1924. Serial No. 732,677.

This invention relates to a refrigerator, more particularly pertaining to a novel construction of the refrigerator shells, and has for its object the construction of such shells so that the total weight of the refrigerator is reduced to a minimum.

One of the difficulties in a cast stone refrigerator has been that it is considerably heavier than the 'ordinary wood refrigerator most commonly used. The stone refrigerator construction, however, has many advantages over the wood construction and they are 'coming into lfavor in spite of the fact that their Vweight is considerable.

Another advantage in this construction is that the built-up fibrous or wooden shell structure may be used 'as one of the moulds in moulding the stone work around the fibrous shell. In a stone refrigerator, where the shell is formedgof a solid moulded lartificial stone, it is necessary to use an outer mould and an inner mould, whereas in this `construction the frame shell structure, which serves as one of the mould parts, may be constructed at a greatly reduced cost than the mould part used in moulding a solid stone refrigerator.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a refrigerator constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. .2 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vert-ical section taken on the line 3 3 -of Fig. 1.

Fig. Il is a perspective view with parts broken away, showing my composite outer shell.

Fig. '5 is a perspective view with parts 'broken away, showing my composite inner shell.

' Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the wood frame forming the inner shell before the stonework is moulded thereto.

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the wood frame forming the outer shell before the stonework is vmoulded thereon.

Fig. 8 is a det-ail of the roughened or splintened wood, showing how 'the moulded stone is secured thereto.

The outer shell is first built up by Securing together the wooden frame members a, by gluing or otherwise securing together. A pluraiity of large-headed nails c are partially -ehhedfiled in the outside surface of this frame structure. There are a great number of these fastening devices used, and obviously other forms of fastening devices could be used instead of these nails. Instead yof these fastening devices, the vrouter surface of the wooden frame may be roughened or splintered by a suitable tool, (Fig. 8). cement or stonework when hardened will be securely tied to the wood frame because of the fact that the cement flows around :the raised splinters of the wood frame. This outer frame structure, preferably of gum wood or poplar, is then .located within an outer mould so that the outside surface of the frame structure will'be spaced `from the inside surface of the outer mould at a distance of approximately three-eighths of an inch. Obviously this spacing could be varied when the requirements of the refrigerator `are 'such that it is necessary to form a thicker stone covering for the outer refrigerator shell. The stonework d, which is preferably an Oxy-chloride cement, is now Vpouredv into the mould and formed about the brous outer shell, and forms a covering for the outer surface thereof. llVh'en this cement hardens, it is securely keyed to `the frames by means of the fastening devices.

Similarly, the inner shell is first built up `of a Vframe structure e of fibrous material,

preferably of the same quality and lgrade 'as 1s the frame structure forming the outer The i shell. These wooden frame members may l be glued or otherwise secu-red together. To finish this inner shell it is Vdesired to cover lthe inside surface lof the shell with a covering 'of moulded artificial stone, and I preferably use Oxy-chloride cement therefor. This covering of oXy-chloride cement is castunited to the inside surface of the inner shell in the same way as is the covering 'for the outer shell. The fastening devices g, which are here shown as large-headed nails, partly driven linto the frame structure, securely key the stonework to the frame byembedding the heads `of'thenails in the stonework. The 'splintering 'process keys 'the stone work to the frame work in a like `manner by .embedding the splinterfed or roughened surface Yof the wood in the stone.

The inner shell may be secured to lthe outer shell lo clamping the same in a manner that is disclosed in 4'my prior application, Serial No. 715,045. ToY clamp the inner shell te eurer Snell, secure the angie strpea to the back ofthe front wall of -the outer shell, and locate these angle strips in such. a way that the inner shell may be fitted there-- in and is partially supported thereby. The clamping straps i are anchored to these angles in a'manner shown in my prior application, these straps being drawn taut about the inner shell and clamped together as at y'. This secures the inner shell to the outer shell, and securely clamps the inner shell up against the front of the outer shell, the anglesbeing so positioned as to locate the inner shell with respect to the outer shell. The inner shell also may be castlunited to the outer shell in a manner as disclosed in my prior application, Serial No. 721,823.

n 2 Layers of cork board la are nailed or otherwise` securedto the inside 'surface of the outer shell, as shown at m. This forms a complete lining of cork board for the outer1 shell, and may be secured to the outer shell beforethe inner shell is clamped in place.

After` the inner shell lhas been secured and clampedto the outershell, the space between the innershell and the `outer shell may be 4filled with an insulating material, which is preferably formed of cork fragments and Y a binder, such as mineral pitch, shown in my `prior application, VSerial No. 716,612. This insulating. material, when hardened,` will fill all the interstices existing between the inner ahdouter shells and form a solid unit of theV refrigerator.` The back ofthe inner shell `may have secured thereto a fibrous strip a, running up and dowmand the layers of cork board 0 maybe iittedbehind the inner shell andthe back plate c, secured in the opening of the back of the refrigerator for closing the same. This back plate is Ysecured to the outer shell as at g, and to the strip 'nf carried bythe inner shell, as fat r. Inthis way, the

inner shell is securely supported at the bac-k.

What I claim is:A 7 "1. .Ina refrigeratoror cabinet construction, the ncombination of interfitting sections` .secured together lin spaced relation, each comprising a ffibrousshell structure, and a thereto'. Y l i 2. In a `refrigeratoror cabinet construction, thecombination of inner and'outer sections [secured together, one of said sections comprising a shell-like frame offibrous material, and having a covering of` plastically applied stone work secured thereto.

3. In a 4refrigerator or cabinet construction, the combination of inner and outer sections secured together in spaced relation,

jcovering of plastically applied stone secured oneof said sections comprising a shellflike frame of wood, and a, covering of cast stone Vcast-united thereto.

4. In a .refrigerator or cabinet construc tion,`the combination of inner and outer sectionsfsecured together, one of said sections comprising a frame structure of brous ma- `for securing the moulded stone work to said fibrous frame. i

In a refrigerator or cabinet construction, the combination of interfitting sections, the outer section comprising a shell-like frame structure of fibrous material and a covering of moulded stone work cast-united to the outside thereof, the inner section comprising a shell-like frame structure of fibrous material and a. 'covering of moulded stone work Vcast-united to the inside surface of said fibrous frame, and means for securing the inner Vand outer shells together.

6. In a refrigerator or cabinet construction, the combination of interiitting sections secured together, each section comprising a shell and mould of fibrous material, and a moulded stone work covering cast-united to said fibrous shell and mould'.

7. In. a refrigerator or. cabinet construction, the combination of interfitting sections secured together, each section comprising a relatively thick fibrous shell, and al layer of plastically applied stone work entirely covering said shells and secured thereto.

8. In afrefrigerator or cabinet construction, the combination of an inner and outer shell of moulded stone secured together, and each provided with an intervening box structure o-f .fibrous material cast-united therewith.

. 9. In a refrigerator or cabinet construction, the combination of an inner and outer shell of moulded stone secured together, one

vof said shells 4provided with an intervening wooden reinforcing box structure embedded therein.

10. In a refrigerator or cabinetconstruction, the combination of an inner and outer shell'of moulded stone secured together in spaced relation and eachl provided with an intervening reinforcing wood box structure secured thereto, and a binder material.V arranged to fill the space betweensaid shells.

reinforcing structure, giving shape to the Y cabinet, or refrigerator, and defining the chamber, or chambers thereof, and a shell of cast stone cast united to the interior walls of said core.

13. A' refrigerator, or cabinet construction, comprising a shell structure of wood boards fitted to give shape to the cabinet, or refrigerator, and a coating of stonework applied in a fluid state to the surfaces of Said Shell and allowed to set in a solid monolithic coating.

14, A refrigerator or Cabinet, in which is located a Wooden core struct-ure to give the Same shape and reinforce the Same and define the Chamber or chambers, and in which the exposed surface of the Wooden Core structure is coated with a plastioally applied hardened cement adhering directly to such Wooden core structure.

l5. A refrigerator or cabinet, Comprising a Wooden Core or reinforcing structure giving shape tothe cabinet or the refrigerator and defining the chamber o r chambers, and

a stonelike exterior and interior surface for the cabinet of the refrigerator applied in the fluid state and allowed to set, whereby such stone coatings are carried and reinforced by Vthe Wooden core structure.

16. A refrigerator, or cabinet construetion, comprising a shell structure of fibrous material, fitted to give shape to the cabinet, orv refrigerator', and a Coating of Stone-Work applied in a fluid state to the surfaces of said Shell and allowed to Set in asolid monolithic coating.

In testimony whereof I have afixed my signature.

LLOYD GQ COPEMAN. 

